Stepping exerciser having actuatable handle

ABSTRACT

A stepping exerciser includes a spindle rotatably supported on a base, a pair of foot supports rotatably supported on the base and arranged to be moved up and down and stepped by a user and pivotally coupled to the spindle in order to drive and rotate the spindle, a pair of handles rotatably supported on the base and arranged to be rotated or swung by the user and connected to the spindle to selectively drive and rotate the spindle. The spindle may thus be continuously driven by the foot supports and the handles alternatively. A follower may be secured on the spindle to increase a moment of inertia of the spindle, and a wheel may be coupled to the follower to apply a retarding force to the follower and the spindle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stepping exerciser, and more particularly to a stepping exerciser having a weight or flywheel rotatable or drivable or actuatable by both the handles and the foot supports of the stepping exerciser, to provide a resistive force against the stepping exerciser.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical stepping exercisers comprise a pair of foot supports or foot pedals pivotally or rotatably attached on a base, and movable up and down, for conducting up and down stepping exercises. Normally, the foot supports or foot pedals may be moved up and down only, and may not be moved laterally and outwardly relative to the users, and in some cases, may be moved or actuated by the handles.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,362 to Bull discloses one of the typical stepping exercisers comprising a pair of foot supports or foot pedals pivotally or rotatably attached on a base, and movable or drivable up and down relative to the base and the users, and a pair of handles also pivotally attached or coupled to the base and coupled to the foot supports or foot pedals for conducting one type of exercises, such as mountain climbing exercises, etc.

However, the foot supports or foot pedals of the typical stepping exercisers may not be used to rotate or to drive a weight or a flywheel. The foot supports or foot pedals of the typical stepping exercisers may not be moved or operated laterally and outwardly by the users.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,076 to Wang et al. discloses another typical stepping exerciser comprising a pair of foot supports or foot pedals pivotally or rotatably attached on a base, and movable or drivable up and down relative to the base and the users, and a handle device pivotally or rotatably attached or coupled to the base and coupled to the foot supports or foot pedals for conducting the other type of exercises, such as mountain climbing exercises, etc.

However, the foot supports or foot pedals of the typical stepping exercisers also may not be used to rotate or to drive a weight or a flywheel. The foot supports or foot pedals of the typical stepping exercisers may not be moved or operated laterally and outwardly by the users.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,202 to Gray discloses a further typical stepping exerciser comprising a pair of foot supports or foot pedals pivotally or rotatably attached on a base, and movable laterally and outwardly relative to the base and the users, for conducting other types of exercises, such as mountain climbing exercises, snow skiing exercises, etc.

However, the handle device of the typical stepping exerciser is solidly supported on top of a front stem and may not be used or moved or operated by the users to train the upper muscle groups of the users

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional stepping exercisers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a stepping exerciser including a weight or flywheel rotatable or drivable or actuatable by either or both the handles and the foot supports of the stepping exerciser, to provide a resistive force against the stepping exerciser.

The other objective of the present invention is to provide a stepping exerciser including a handle selectively actuatable or operatable by the users.

The further objective of the present invention is to provide a stepping exerciser including a spindle to be rotated or driven by both the foot pedals and the handles.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a stepping exerciser comprising a base, a spindle rotatably supported on the base, a pair of foot supports pivotally supported on the base, and arranged to be moved up and down and stepped by a user, and pivotally coupled to the spindle to drive and to rotate the spindle respectively, and a pair of handles rotatably supported on the base, and arranged to be rotated and swung by the user, and pivotally coupled to the spindle to drive and to rotate the spindle respectively, and arranged to allow the spindle to be rotated and driven by the handles and the foot supports.

A connecting device may further be provided for connecting the handles to the spindle, to drive and to rotate the spindle. The connecting device includes two rotary members attached onto the spindle, and two actuating members engaged onto the rotary members respectively for rotating the rotary members and the spindle when the actuating members are unwound from the rotary members.

The base includes two levers pivotally supported on the base, and coupled to the actuating members respectively for unwinding the actuating members from the rotary members respectively. The handles are coupled to the levers with links respectively. The base includes two bars each having a first end portion pivotally secured to an upright support of the base with a pivot rod, and each having a second end portion pivotally coupled to the links, and the handles are extended upwardly from the bars respectively.

The base includes an arm having a middle portion pivotally secured to the base with a pivot pole, and having two end portions pivotally coupled to the levers with two links respectively for allowing the levers to be pivotally coupled together with the arm and the links. The foot supports each include an extension extended therefrom and pivotally coupled to the levers with linking members respectively for coupling the foot supports to the levers respectively.

The spindle includes a follower secured thereon and rotated in concert with the spindle to increase a moment of inertia of the spindle. The base includes a wheel rotatably disposed thereon and coupled to the follower, to apply a resistive force against the follower and the spindle. The base includes a retarding device provided thereon and disposed for applying a resistive force against the wheel.

The foot supports each include an upper portion having a tube laterally extended therefrom, for rotatably securing a foot pedal thereto with pivot rods. The foot supports each include a frame attached to bottom thereof, for rotatably securing to the tubes with the pivot rods respectively. The base includes two studs extended upwardly therefrom, the foot supports are rotatably secured to the base and the studs with pivot axles, the pivot axles are parallel to a longitudinal axis of the base, to allow the stems to be moved sidewise and outwardly relative to the base.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a stepping exerciser in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial rear perspective view of the stepping exerciser;

FIG. 3 is a left side plan schematic view of the stepping exerciser;

FIG. 4 is a front plan schematic view of the stepping exerciser;

FIG. 5 is a rear plan schematic view of the stepping exerciser; and

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the stepping exerciser as seen from the other or opposite side of that shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 3-5, a stepping exerciser 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 10 including an upright support 11 extended upwardly from the front portion 12 of the base 10, two posts 13 also extended upwardly from the front portion 12 of the base 10 and disposed or arranged or located on the two side portions of the upright support 11, a stationary frame or support 14 extended upwardly from the middle portion 15 of the base 10 and disposed or arranged or located behind the upright support 11, and one or more, such as two studs 16 extended upwardly from the rear portion 17 of the base 10.

One or more, such as two pairs of foot supports 20, 21 each has a lower portion rotatably or pivotally secured to the base 10 and/or the studs 16 with a pivot axle 22, which is parallel to a longitudinal axis 80 of the base 10 (FIG. 2), to allow the foot supports 20, 21 to be moved laterally and outwardly relative to the base 10. Each of the foot supports 20, 21 includes an upper portion 23 having a tube 24 laterally extended therefrom and also arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis 80 of the base 10 (FIG. 2), for rotatably or pivotally securing a foot pedal 25 thereto with pivot rods 26. For example, the foot pedal 25 each includes a frame 27 attached to bottom thereof, for rotatably or pivotally securing to the tubes 24 or the foot supports 20, 21 with the pivot rods 26.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the foot supports 20, 21 may be formed into or as a substantially parallelogrammic structure when or while the foot pedal 25 are stepped laterally or sidewise and outwardly relative to the base 10 for allowing the foot pedal 25 also to be moved or rotated laterally or sidewise and outwardly relative to the base 10, in order to stably or suitably support the foot pedal 25 and thus to stably or suitably support the users on the foot pedals 25. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an extension 28 is extended from each of the foot supports 20, 21, or from the foot pedals 25, or from the frame 27 of the foot pedals 25 and also arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis 80 of the base 10 (FIG. 2).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-4, two levers 30 each include a lower or front portion 31 rotatably or pivotally secured to the base 10 and/or the posts 13 with a pivot pin 32 for allowing the levers 30 to be pivoted or rotated up and down relative to the base 10, two bars 33 each include one end portion 34 rotatably or pivotally secured to the upright support 11 of the base 10 with a pivot rod 35, and each include a handle 36 extended upwardly therefrom for supporting the upper portion of the user, and each include the other end portion 37 pivotally coupled to a link 38 which is then pivotally coupled to the middle portion 39 of the lever 30 for allowing the levers 30 to be moved or rotated or pivoted up and down relative to the base 10 by the handles 36 and the links 38. It is preferable that a linking means or device 40 is further provided for coupling or linking the levers 30 together.

For example, the linking means or device 40 includes an arm 41 having a center or middle portion rotatably or pivotally coupled or secured to the upright support 11 of the base 10 with a pivot pole 42 (FIG. 4) for allowing the two end portions 43 of the arm 40 to be rotated or pivoted relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 or to be moved or rotated or pivoted up and down relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10, and the two end portions 43 of the arm 40 are pivotally coupled or secured to the middle portions 39 of the levers 30 with two links 44 respectively for allowing the levers 30 to be pivotally coupled together with the arm 40 and the links 44 and for allowing the levers 30 to be moved oppositely relative to each other. For example, one of the levers 30 will be moved upwardly when the other lever 30 moves downwardly, and vice versa.

The levers 30 each include an upper or rear portion 45 rotatably or pivotally coupled or secured to the extensions 28 that are extended from the foot supports 20, 21 or the foot pedals 25 or the frames 27 of the foot pedals 25 with linking members 46 (FIGS. 1, 3) for allowing the levers 30 to be pivotally coupled to the foot supports 20, 21 or the foot pedals 25 and for allowing the levers 30 to be moved or actuated or pivoted or rotated up and down relative to the base 10 by the foot supports 20, 21 or the foot pedals 25, or for allowing the foot supports 20, 21 or the foot pedals 25 to be moved or actuated or pivoted or rotated up and down relative to the base 10 by the levers 30 respectively, and thus for allowing the foot pedals 25 and the handles 36 and the levers 30 to be pivotally linked or coupled together.

A spindle 50 is rotatably supported on the base 10, such as on the stationary support 14 that is extended upwardly from the middle portion 15 of the base 10. A weight or follower 51 and two or more (such as two) pulleys or rotary members 52 are secured on the spindle 50 and rotated in concert with the spindle 50, to increase a moment of inertia of the spindle 50. A flywheel or wheel 53 may further be provided and rotatably supported on the front portion 12 of the base 10 and coupled to the follower 51 with a coupler member 54 (FIGS. 1, 3), such as a coupling gearing, chain, belt 54, or the like, to allow the wheel 53 to be rotated or driven by the follower 51.

A brake or retarding device 55, such as an electromagnetic retarding device 55 may further be provided and disposed beside the wheel 53, for applying a resistive force against the wheel 53 and thus the follower 51 and the spindle 50. One or more, such as two belts or resilient or actuating members 56 may further be provided and have one end secured to and engaged onto or around the rotary members 52 respectively for rotating the rotary members 52 and thus the spindle 50 and the follower 51 when the actuating members 56 are unwound from the rotary members 52. The other ends of the resilient or actuating members 56 are then coupled to the upper or rear portions 45 of the levers 30 with fasteners or pegs 47 for allowing the actuating members 56 to be selectively pulled and unwound from the rotary members 52 by the levers 30 respectively. The wheel 53 and the follower 51 may apply a resistive force against the rotational movement of the spindle 50.

It is to be noted that the rotary members 52 are disposed on the spindle 50 with conventional unidirectional bearings (not shown) or the like, and arranged to allow the spindle 50 to be rotated or driven in an active direction by the rotary members 52, and to be rotated freely relative to the rotary members 52 in a reverse direction, and thus to allow the spindle 50 to be rotated or driven in the active direction continuously by the levers 30 and/or the handles 36 alternatively. The retarding device 55 may also be provided to apply the resistive force to resist the movement or the operation of the handles 36 and the rotational movement of the spindle 50 and the follower 51 and the wheel 53. The extensions 28 of the foot supports 20, 21 and the foot pedals 25 may also be pivotally coupled or secured to the other ends of the resilient or actuating members 56 directly with the linking members 46 or indirectly with the levers 30 for allowing the resilient or actuating members 56 to be selectively pulled and unwound from the rotary members 52 by the foot pedal 25 and/or the foot supports 20, 21 respectively when the foot pedals 25 are stepped relative to the base 10 by the users.

Similarly, the spindle 50 may also be rotated or driven continuously by the foot pedals 25, and the rotary members 52 may also be rotated or driven by the handles 36 with the bars 33 and the links 38 and the levers 30 such that the spindle 50 may be continuously rotated or driven by the foot pedals 25 and the handles 22 alternatively, and the retarding device 55 and the resilient or actuating members 56 may also apply a resistive force against the rotational movement of the spindle 50 and thus the swinging movement of the handles 36, and thus the stepping operation of the foot pedals 25 and the foot supports 20 or 21 respectively, and thus for allowing the users to exercise or to train the upper muscle groups and/or the lower muscle groups of the users.

The extensions 28 extended from the foot supports 20 or 21 and the linking members 46 and/or the levers 30 and the actuating members 56 may thus be used or formed or acted as a coupling means or device for coupling the foot pedals 25 or the foot supports 20 or 21 to the spindle 50, to allow the spindle 50 to be rotated or driven continuously by the foot pedals 25 or the foot supports 20 or 21. In addition, the actuating members 56 and the levers 30 and the links 38 and the bars 33 and the handles 36 may thus be used or formed or acted as a connecting means or device for connecting the handles 36 to the spindle 50, and thus to allow the spindle 50 to be rotated or driven continuously by the handles 36. The typical stepping exercisers may not be used to rotate or to drive a spindle continuously by the handles 36 and the foot pedals 25 or the foot supports 20 or 21.

Accordingly, the stepping exerciser in accordance with the present invention includes a weight or flywheel rotatable or drivable or actuatable by either or both the handles and the foot supports of the stepping exerciser, to provide a resistive force against the stepping exerciser, and includes a handle selectively actuatable or operatable by the users, and includes a spindle to be rotated or driven by both the foot pedals and the handles.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A stepping exerciser comprising: a base, a spindle rotatably supported on said base, a pair of foot supports pivotally supported on said base, and arranged to be moved up and down and stepped by a user, and pivotally coupled to said spindle to drive and to rotate said spindle respectively, and a pair of handles rotatably supported on said base, and arranged to be rotated and swung by the user, and pivotally coupled to said spindle to drive and to rotate said spindle respectively, and arranged to allow said spindle to be rotated and driven by said handles and said foot supports.
 2. The stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for connecting said handles to said spindle, to drive and to rotate said spindle.
 3. The stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 2, wherein said connecting means includes two rotary members attached onto said spindle, and two actuating members engaged onto said rotary members respectively for rotating said rotary members and said spindle when said actuating members are unwound from said rotary members.
 4. The stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 3, wherein said base includes two levers pivotally supported on said base, and coupled to said actuating members respectively for unwinding said actuating members from said rotary members respectively.
 5. The stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 4, wherein said handles are coupled to said levers with links respectively.
 6. The stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 5, wherein said base includes two bars each having a first end portion pivotally secured to an upright support of said base with a pivot rod, and each having a second end portion pivotally coupled to said links, and said handles are extended upwardly from said bars respectively.
 7. The stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 4, wherein said base includes an arm having a middle portion pivotally secured to said base with a pivot pole, and having two end portions pivotally coupled to said levers with two links respectively for allowing said levers to be pivotally coupled together with said arm and said links.
 8. The stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 4, wherein said foot supports each include an extension extended therefrom and pivotally coupled to said levers with linking members respectively for coupling said foot supports to said levers respectively.
 9. The stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spindle includes a follower secured thereon and rotated in concert with said spindle to increase a moment of inertia of said spindle.
 10. The stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 9, wherein said base includes a wheel rotatably disposed thereon and coupled to said follower, to apply a resistive force against said follower and said spindle.
 11. The stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 10, wherein said base includes a retarding device provided thereon and disposed for applying a resistive force against said wheel.
 12. The stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foot supports each include an upper portion having a tube laterally extended therefrom, for rotatably securing a foot pedal thereto with pivot rods.
 13. The stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 12, wherein said foot supports each include a frame attached to bottom thereof, for rotatably securing to said tubes with said pivot rods respectively.
 14. The stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 12, wherein said base includes two studs extended upwardly therefrom, said foot supports are rotatably secured to said base and said studs with pivot axles, said pivot axles are parallel to a longitudinal axis of said base, to allow said stems to be moved sidewise and outwardly relative to said base. 